Boat fender or bumper

ABSTRACT

A boat fender or bumper device is provided for cushioning the impact of a boat with another boat, or a wharf or dock. The device is characterized by the use of a compact frame mounted within the hull or gunwale of the boat, and having an impact bar movable to an extended operative position exteriorly of the hull, and to an inoperative position substantially entirely within the hull. Means are provided for locking the impact bar in extended or operating position, and for locking it also in retracted or inoperative position. A novel arrangement of a cable and spring tensioning means is utilized for cushioning and controlling the impact.

United States Patent Malenka I n] 3,744,445 45] July 10,1973

l54] BOAT FENDER OR BUMPER [76] Inventor: John F. Malenka, 6194 Wallace Boulevard, North Ridgeville, Ohio 44039 [22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 190,244

[52] US. Cl. 114/219 [51] Int. Cl B631) 59/02 [5.8] Field of Search 11'4/219 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,316 7/1936 Peterson 114/219 2,842,939 7/1958 Dauriac 114/219 2,847,964 8/1958 Skinas...;.; 114/219 1,339,663 5/1920- Nakabayashi.... 114/219 1,145,749 7/1915 Claud 114/219 7 Primary ExaminerDuane A. Reger Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. O'Connor Attorneylsler & Omstein 57 ABSTRACT A boat fender or bumper device is provided for cushioning the impact of a boat with another boat, or a wharf or dock. The device is characterized by the use of a compact frame mounted within the hull or gunwale of the boat, and having an impact bar movable to an extended operative position exteriorly of the hull, and to an inoperative position substantially entirely within the hull. Means are provided for locking the impact bar in extended or operating position, and for locking it also in retracted or inoperative position. A novel arrangement of a cable and spring tensioning means is utilized for cushioning and controlling the impact.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures szelsa PATENIEUJUL I 0 I975 SHEEIZBFZ mwN hm mm wwommwmm mmmomtmmhmbmhmm mm wwOm mm mm mm 38. Q. RN

. INVENTOR.

JOHN F. MALENKA ATTORN EYS BOAT FENDER R BUMPER This invention relates, as indicated, to boat fenders or bumpers, but has reference more particularly to devices of this character which are especially effective for cushioning or absorbing the impact of a boat with docks, other boats, etc., to thereby preclude damage.

Devices of this general character are described in US. Pat. Nos. l,l45,749; 2,847,964 and 3,109,404, but such devices are of somewhat complicated construction and difficult to install on a boat. I

The present invention has, as its primary object, the

provision of a device of the character described, whichis of relatively simple construction, consisting of a minimum number of parts which can be easily manufactured, and can be quickly and easily assembled and mounted on a boat, within a relatively small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having novel looking or latching means for maintaining the bumper or fender in extended or operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, having means for maintaining the bumper supporting portion of the device in retracted or non-operative position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device, with the bumper or fender in extended or operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1, and

' FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the impact bar locked in retracted or inoperative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral designates the forward end of the body or hull of a boat, having the device of the present invention secured thereto.

The device comprises an elongated rectangular frame comprising laterally spaced angles 11 and 12, which are interconnected at their ends by angles 13 and 14, the angle 13 being secured to the angles 11 and 12 by means of bolts 15 and nuts 16. The angle 14 is welded to the rear ends of the angles 11 and 12.

The frame further includes an upstanding support plate 17, which is secured to the angle 14 as by means of bolts 18 and nuts 19, and an upstanding support member 20, which is welded to the upper edge of the angle 13, and is provided with spaced forwardly extending bracket arms 21 and 22, and similarly spaced upwardly extending bracket arms 23 and 24.

Secured to the plate 17, as by means of nuts 25 and 26 is a guide rod 27 which extends parallel with the frame, and has its forward end welded to the support member 20.

The bracket arms 21 and 22 support a shaft 28 on which a roller 29 is mounted for rotation, while the bracket arms 23 and 24 support a shaft 30 on which a roller 31 is mounted for rotation, these rollers 29 and 31 serving a purpose to be presently described.

Mounted for reciprocal movement in a plane parallel with the frame is an impact bar 32, preferably made of anodized tempered aluminum, this bar being contoured to provide a shoulder 32a and 32b against which a rubber collar 33 is seated. The impact bar 32 has secured to its rear end, as by means of bolts 34 and nuts 35, a

Nylon guide block 36, through which the guide rod 27 extends, so that this block guides movement of the rear end of the impact bar 32 as the bar is moved. The forward portion of the impact bar 32 extends between the rollers 29 and 31, so that these rollers guide movement of the forward portion of the impact bar.

Mounted on the guide rod 27, between the block 36 and the plate 17, is a compression coil spring 37, which serves a purpose to be presently described.

Secured to the block 36, as by means of the bolts 34, is a buckle 38, which is similar in all respects to the buckle of an automobile safety belt, such, for example, as that used in a Cadillac or Oldsmobile 1971 model.

Welded to the angles 11 and 12 are angle brackets 45 which support a shaft 47, upon which a sheave or pulley 48 is mounted for rotation.

A steel cable '49 is provided which is trained about the sheave or pulley 48, and has one of its ends secured to a collar 50, which is welded to a keeper 50a, which coacts with the buckle 38, when the keeper is inserted in the buckle, to lock the buckle and keeper to each other.

The other end of the cable 49 is secured to a yoke 51, which is mounted, for pivotal movement in a pulley 52, which, in turn, is rigidly secured to one end of a strong tension coil spring 53. The other end of the spring 53 is secured, as by means of a bolt 54, nut 55 and washer 56, to a plate 57. The plate 57 is secured to the angles 11 and 12.

The keeper 50a is welded to the rear ends of plungers 60 and 61, which are slidably movable in cylinders 62 and 63, which, in turn, are welded to angle brackets 64 and 65, which are welded to the angles 11 and 12.

The keeper 50a has mounted thereon a Nylon buffer or bumper plate 66, and the plungers 60 and 61 have mounted thereon rearwardly of the keeper 50a, rubber stops 67 and 68. The function of the plate 66,-and stops 67 and 68 will presently be described.

Mounted for rotation in the angles 11and l2 is a shaft 69 having a crank arm 70, the shaft 69 having secured thereto intermediate its ends a release finger 71, whose function will be presently described.

For the purpose of securing the device to the .hull or gunwale 10 of the boat, a plate 72 is provided, which is rigidly secured to braces 73 and 74 carried by the angle 13. The plate 72 has an opening 75 for passage therethrough of the impact bar 32.

Secured to the hull l0 and to the plate 72, as by means of bolts 76 and nuts 77 (see FIG. 1 is a second plate 78, from which a collar 79 extends, and through which the impact bar 32 extends. The collar 79 has vertically aligned holes 80 and 81, which serve a purpose to be presently described. A lock pin 82 is also provided, which is secured to the collar 79, as by a chain 83.

The device further includes a bumper bar 84, which is vertically-slidable in a collar 85, and may be secured in any desired vertical position, relatively to the collar 85, as by means of a set screw 86. The collar 85 has welded thereto a socket member 87, in which the forward end of the impact bar 32 is adapted to be secured, with the collar locked to the impact bar as by means of a lock pin 88, which is passed through verticallyaligned holes 89-and 90 in the collar 85, and a hole 91 in the forward end of the impact bar 32.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the device is shown in its operative position, that is to say, the bumper bar 84 is secured to the forward end of the impact bar 32, and with the bumper bar locked to the impact bar, by means of the lock pin 88, which extends through the aligned holes 89, 90 and 91.

In this position, the buckle 38, as best seen in FIG. 3, is locked or latched to the keeper 50a, so that there is no relative movement between the buckle and the keeper.

When the bumper bar 84 comes into contact with the wharf or another boat, the impact will cause the bar 32 to move to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, producing a pull on the cable 49, and causing. the spring 53 to bend and to move from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. This movement of the spring 53 causes the shock of the impact to be gently cushioned, and when the bumper bar moves out of contact with the wharf or other boat, the spring 53 reassumes its solid line position.

It has been found that a spring 53 of the type shown in FIG. 2 is far more effective in gently cushioning the impact of the bumper bar at all times, and irrespective of the degree of impact, than springs of other types, or differently positioned in relation to the supporting frame.

When it is desired not to use the bumper bar, or when it is desired to remove and store the bumper bar, so as to prevent inadvertent removal thereof from the impact bar, the lock pin 88 is removed from the aligned holes 89, 90 and 91, and the bumper bar is removed from the impact bar.

The crank arm 70 is then turned to cause the release finger 71 to release the keeper 500 from locked or latched engagement with the buckle 38, so that the impact bar 32 can be manually retracted to the position shown in FIG. 4.

In this position, the holes 80 and 81 in the collar 79 are aligned with the hole 91 in the forward end of the impact bar 32, and the lock pin 82 is inserted in the holes 80, 91 and 81, so that the impact bar.32 is not only locked against movement, but the forward end-of the impact bar does not extend beyond the collar 79, and the impact bar cannot be damaged.

The spring 37 functions to cushion rearward push of the impact bar, after the keeper 50a is released from the buckle 38.

The .rubber collar 33 acts to cushion the impact of the impact bar 32 with the support member 20, when the impact bar is moved forwardly to its operative position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

The rubber stops 67 and 68 act to cushion the impact of the keeper with the rear ends of the cylinders 62 and 63, when the impact of the bumper bar is relieved, and the spring 53 is restored to its initial or solid line position.

Details 'of the buckle 38 and keeper 50a are not shown, but it is to be understood that this buckle and keeper are of the type conventionally used in safety belts of I97] model Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles, wherein, the buckle is provided with a spring-pressed plunger, and the keeper is a plate which extends into the buckle and has a hole therein adapted to receive the spring-pressed plunger when the keeper is pushed into the buckle. Thefinger 71 of the release presses against this spring-pressed plunger to release the keeperfrom the buckle, permitting separation of the buckle from the keeper.

It is thus seen that I have provided a device of the character described, which is of simple construction, consists of a minimum number of parts which can be easily manufactured, and can be quickly and easily assembled and mounted within a relatively small space in the interior of the boat.

The latching or locking means consisting of the buckle and keeper is highly effective for maintaining the bumper or fender in its extended or operative posi tion, while the cable and spring tension means is highly effective for gently cushioning impacts ranging from 52 to 1 ton of pressure.

The locking means shown in FIG. 4, consisting of the parts 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 91, is highly effective for maintaining the impact bar in retracted or nonoperative position, so that not only is damage to the impact bar avoided, but the bar is prevented from protruding from the hull of the boat to any extent which might cause injury or damage to passengers or obstructions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame adapted for securement to the inside of the hull of a boat, an impact bar reciprocally movable along said frame, and extending exteriorly of the hull, a bumper bar carried by said impact bar, spring means for cushioning the impact of the bumper bar with a wharf or other boat, and means for locking said impact bar in its extended position said locking means comprising a buckle member supported by the rear end of said impact bar, and a keeper mounted on said frame and adapted to be received by said buckle, when said impact bar is moved to its extended position, said cushioning means comprising a tension coil spring, one end of which is secured to said frame, and a cable, one end of which is secured to the opposite end of said spring and the other end of which is secured to said keeper.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, including a sheave mounted for rotation on said frame, and about which said cable is trained. I

3. A device, as defined in claim 2, including a guide rod mounted on said frame for guiding the rear portion of the impact bar for movement parallel with the frame,

and a pair of spaced rollers mounted on said frame for guiding the forward portion of the impact bar for movement parallel with the frame.

4. Adevice, asdefined in claim 3, wherein said bumper bar is secured to said impact bar by means of a removable pin, permitting the bumper bar to be removed from the impact bar.

5. A device, as defined in claim 4, including meansv impact bar.

=0: :0: k :u a 

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame adapted for securement to the inside of the hull of a boat, an impact bar reciprocally movable along said frame, and extending exteriorly of the hull, a bumper bar carried by said impact bar, spring means for cushioning the impact of the bumper bar with a wharf or other boat, and means for locking said impact bar in its extended position said locking means comprising a buckle member supported by the rear end of said impact bar, and a keeper mounted on said frame and adapted to be received by said buckle, when said impact bar is moved to its extended position, said cushioning means comprising a tension coil spring, one end of which is secured to said frame, and a cable, one end of which is secured to the opposite end of said spring and the other end of which is secured to said keeper.
 2. A device, as defined in claim 1, including a sheave mounted for rotation on said frame, and about which said cable is trained.
 3. A device, as defined in claim 2, including a guide rod mounted on said frame for guiding the rear portion of the impact bar for movement parallel with the frame, and a pair of spaced rollers mounted on said frame for guiding the forward portion of the impact bar for movement parallel with the frame.
 4. A device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said bumper bar is secured to said impact bar by means of a removable pin, permitting the bumper bar to be removed from the impact bar.
 5. A device, as defined in claim 4, including means for locking the impact bar in a retracted, non-operative position.
 6. A device, as defined in claim 5, wherein said lastnamed means comprises a removable pin.
 7. A device, as defined in claim 6, including means for releasing said buckle and keeper from interlocked engagement with each other.
 8. A device, as defined in claim 7, including means for adjusting the bumper part vertically relatively to the impact bar. 